The Newport Waterfront Irish Festival is set for today, tomorrow and Monday, rain or shine along the Newport waterfront. It's a musical and cultural event but I don't care about all that.

I'm interested in this: to celebrate Guinness' 250th Anniversary its brewers from Dublin have handcrafted a limited-edition stout for the occasion. Attendees can Pour Your Own Pint, and receive pointers from the Guinness ambassadors on how to ensure the perfect two-part pour while settling the pint and shaping a good luck shamrock. However, if a quick draft is desired, the Guinness Gig Rig draught system will be parked in the middle of the action, pouring black & tan with Harp Lager and Guinness Stout from up to 200 kegs and 24 taps.

Guests can enjoy a pint with assorted offerings of traditional Irish pub fare, including bangers & mash, fish & chips, corned beef dinner, shepherd's pie, spiral potatoes and fried oysters.

As for the musical headliners, they include Eileen Ivers, The Killdares, Black 47, The Makem and Spain Brothers, The Glengarry Bhoys, Town Pants and the Screaming Orphans. More than 100 acts perform on five stages.

Attendees will also find a Culture and Theater Tent featuring Irish step dancers and the Celtic comedy act, the Tartan Terrors.

The gates will open at 11:00 each day and close at 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, 8:00 p.m. on Sunday and 6:00 p.m. on Monday. Tickets ($18 today and $15 Sunday and Monday) are available through the Newport Yachting Center Box Office at (401) 846-1600 or online at Newport Waterfront Events.